Junior dos Santos: Overeem is a joke, I’m a more complete fighter than Mark Hunt

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos is looking to claw back to the top of that illustrious mountain with a victory over the surging Mark Hunt at UFC 160. When his original opponent Alistair Overeem withdrew from the fight with a quad injury, JDS started mentally preparing for another task. Speaking to MMA Fight Corner, he said his feud with Overeem, although unfulfilled, is over:

“Alistair Overeem is…I have nothing to say about this guy. He pulled out one more time for the fight, so I have nothing to say about him. What I care now is about Mark Hunt. Mark Hunt is a really tough fighter, he hits very hard, so I have to take care of that. I think it’s going to be a good fight for the fans. I’m getting prepared in Brazil and I think I’m going to be a hundred percent on the day of the fight.”

Dos Santos has moved onto another fight and another focus, noting that Hunt obviously has incredible power in his striking. ‘Cigano’ knows that Hunt is most likely the only step left to climb to another title shot. JDS addressed the heavy-hitting former K-1 Champion:

“He’s got a lot of power in his punches and I think it’s going to be pretty tough for me. I think I’m faster than him and I’m more complete than him, I think so. I learned a lot of things in my last fight and during my career and I know it’s MMA and you have to be ready to fight anywhere. So, that’s how I will be for my next fight. I’ll be ready to fight anywhere and if I feel weird fighting standing with him, I’m going to take him down.”

Dos Santos is well known for his striking prowess, but he also has supposedly has a ton of skill on the ground, being a BJJ student of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. He will look to get back to a trilogy bout with Cain Velasquez, who faces off against Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva in a rematch at UFC 160 as well. JDS will look to fight Velasquez, as Silva is a good friend and training partner of his. He spoke briefly about their pivotal title rematch at UFC 155:

“This sport is very tough. You have to be smart to learn with your mistakes. Cain Velasquez did a great job in that fight, but I feel like I wasn’t there. I wasn’t fighting against him. I didn’t impose my gameplan, and I just followed him. That was really tough, but I really learned a lot and it’s MMA. I really have to use all the weapons that I have – my jiu jitsu, my wrestling. So I learned that and I think I’m going to come back stronger.”

Cigano will make his case from another title shot this May. Will he return to championship form?

http://lowkickmma.com/members/KeithFarrell/ KeithFarrell

I like Hunt and Overeem but he speaks the truth.

It is pretty sad and ironic that Overeem is incredibly talented and he still let himself get KO'd by the less skilled fighter in Bigfoot, something JDS would likely never allow, especially in his prime.
Hunt is a great striker but if someone who is decent at grappling fought Hunt smartly (opposite of Struve) they could easily win.
If Cain, Werdum, Mir, Nog or any other good grappler went in and really went for the takedown, I have no doubt they would win.

While I agree with Junior, he has some fighitng ability problems of his own and he definitely needs to make a statement after his last fight, he should worry about that more than anything.

http://lowkickmma.com/members/FoetusFarm/ FoetusFarm

I may be the only one that believes this but im pretty sure that JDS will keep some range with the jab and then land multiple takedowns on hunt either going for the gnp or submission finish. Hunt has serious power but jds has a serious chin with incredible speed. If he was landing takedowns on carwin he could easily land them on hunt. people are mistaking jds for somebody who stands and trades in the pocket but he will keep his distance using his speed to pick him apart. jds has fought the best level fighters but hunt hasnt been up against somebody like jds before

http://lowkickmma.com/members/Brian-Cox/ Brian Cox

AO could well prove to be a bust in The UFC. That's a true enough statement and I have no doubt the JDS is a more complete and well-rounded fighter than Mark Hunt. However, that's not really the problem or the question. GSP faces a similar challenge against Hendricks. I doubt any would argue that GSP is more well-rounded than Hendricks, but that has nothing to do with Big Rig's ability to KO Rush. I'd say the same thing of Mark Hunt, regarding JDS. Just because JDS is a more complete, does not completely rule out Mark Hunts complete ability to KO Jr. and if The Samoan wins, that's exactly how he's going to win.

Concluding – Mark Hunt is more than complete enough to beat JDS. He might not, but he is more than complete enough to pull it off.

http://lowkickmma.com/members/Thexperience1/ thexperience1

I think Hunt has more of a chance of winning than JDS for the simple fact that Hunt only has to touch JDS once and its lights out…. on the other hand JDS is gonna have a hard time KO'ing Hunt… and there we have it TIME…. will JDS have enough TIME… to beat Hunt… he MIGHT but i give Hunt a big advantage here… and The Reem.. well that could go either way but if i had to put my money on it, i would put all of it on The Reem without a single doubt, especially after he just lost. He'll come back extra hungry and i don't think JDS can handle him.

http://lowkickmma.com/members/Brian-Cox/ Brian Cox

@ Experience

I'd endorse all of that…

http://lowkickmma.com/members/Grandslam/ grandslam

Are you two drunk?

http://lowkickmma.com/members/Brian-Cox/ Brian Cox

@ Grand

LOL! We're drunk on Samoan wins.

http://lowkickmma.com/members/Mmauk/ mmauk

@theexperience1
I'm sorry but more than a chance ? When you use the phrase ''touch once'' it usually means that fighters has a ''punchers chance'' of winning. I remember when everyone said the same about Carwin and even before Vitor fought Silva. JDS is a knows what he has to avoid I just don't see JDS allowing Hunt to catch him clean so this ''touch once'' stuff won't be enough.

http://lowkickmma.com/members/Brian-Cox/ Brian Cox

@ MMAUK

Where "touch once" might mean a puncher's chance, I don't think that is the case with Hunt. He's a whole lot more than a puncher's chance. He's a serious K-1 fighter and as this fight will probably not end up on the ground, that's going to be relevant. No one would argue that JDS has great boxing, but what do you do with a boxer…you brawl him. Mark hunt has more than enough power and chin, to brawl Cigano and of the two, if the question is who hits harder, I'd say Hunt.

Also, JDS has demonstrated that he has had a problem with finishing tough opponents. Well, Mark is certainly the equal of Nelson and Carwin in that department and he's got better stand-up, the both.

Can JDS beat Hunt? Yes. Can Hunt beat Jr.? Yes. I'd say this is Jr's fight to lose and Hunt's fight to win. Either way, it should be a great and entertaining bout.

http://lowkickmma.com/members/Mmauk/ mmauk

@TRUTH
I can't disagree with any point you made, it's the ''Touch Once'' phrase that grinds my gears.

http://lowkickmma.com/members/Thexperience1/ thexperience1

Let me break down what i mean with "Touch Once" exactly… When i say touch once. I'm not saying Mark only has a punchers chance. I'm saying he has that 1 punch KO power to end the fight. Now JDS has that kind of power too, i just don't think he can KO Hunt with it. If anything, he would take it by TKO.. meaning punches in bunches… which is why i said: Hunt only has to touch JDS once! Hunt broke Struve's f*cking face when he was EXHAUSTED.. imagine the impact of that punch in the first round when he's FIT… if it lands its over!

http://lowkickmma.com/members/Brian-Cox/ Brian Cox

@ MMAUK

LOL!….Cool.

http://lowkickmma.com/members/IChokePeople/ IChokePeople

I dislike this guy more every time he speaks. I'm not even sure exactly why; he just rubs me wrong. Unfortunately he is probably right about Hunt. As much as I want Hunt to win I think he is going to get picked apart from the outside. JDS via UD. I can't wait for JDS to find out what a joke Overeem is when he wakes up to a flash light in his face after they eventually fight.

http://lowkickmma.com/members/SatelliteMan/ SatelliteMan

It's funny. I felt this way for a moment when I read the title of this article. I think it's a bit misleading. Thinking back to all his interviews he's a pretty grounded/cool guy.

http://lowkickmma.com/members/Brian-Cox/ Brian Cox

@ Satellite

JDS is a very cool guy. What fan wouldn't be happy to call Jr. friend and have his phone number listed in their cell's directory? As a Hunt fan, I think Jr. is awesome.

http://lowkickmma.com/author/Def_tac Def_tac

JDS would have to beat someone a bit better than Hunt. Nothing against him but JDS needs to fight Overeem. NO excuses either JDS, you are starting to fit in with the NOG camp.

http://lowkickmma.com/members/Grandslam/ grandslam

JDS will destroy Hunt. No offense to hunt fans but please avoid getting too excited about Hunt winning. It just ain't gonna happen. Overeem on the other hand, should get a good medical insurance before he meets JDS. Just saying…

http://lowkickmma.com/members/Brian-Cox/ Brian Cox

@ Grand

You're drunk on Cheap Cigano, screw-top, Red.

http://lowkickmma.com/members/Grandslam/ grandslam

It's better being drunk on a cheap Cigano red. At least I am not delusional

Hunts cardio is his biggest weakness. he gasses every time. JDS will easily be able to pick Hunt apart with distance and speed…

http://lowkickmma.com/members/Azzkika/ azzkika

The HW division seemed to be on the verge of having some depth to it but sadly the fact remains there are too few well round world class fighters at that weight. JDS and Cain come close to being worthy of the title world class but barring the MW division, all other divisions are light years ahead. Hunt is a plodder with great power in both hands and JDS will be too slick on his feet for Hunt. Overeem proved he is still Overeem – great stand up but freezes when hit with a good shot and gets finished. he also is one cocky prick so I'm glad he got KTFO by Bigfoot. IT looks like it could be the JDS and Cain show once a year for the next few years unless another fighter emerges who is almost world class.

No disrespect to Hunt. It takes balls and heart to get in there and get it on but he isn't much of an improvement since Tank Abbott.